Lubricity Improvement of Imidazolium Cation-based Ionic Liquids Treated with Carbon Dioxide

Abstract

Lubrication properties of ionic liquids were examined by friction tests between stainless steel disks and stainless steel balls. 1,3-Dimethylimidazolium dimethylphosphate ([C₁C₁im][dMp]) was a more effective lubricant for suppressing friction than poly-alpha-olefin, a commercially available hydrocarbon-based synthetic lubricant. [C₁C₁im][dMp] treated with supercritical carbon dioxide showed further suppression of friction in the initial stage of the friction test.